Spectacularly panoramic, coast to coast views of the whole isthmus reward those who brave the drive on the concrete/tarmac road that clings precariously to the mountain side as it climbs from Kato Chorio on its way towards the mountain village of Thripti. The road peters out into a track at Thripti, so unless you're driving a 4x4 (and it is insured for use on unmaintained roads - not all 4x4 rentals are!), catch your breath at a cafe in the village before descending back down the same way.
Once back down on the main road, continue north, and just before reaching the coastal village of Pachia Ammos, the modern village of Vasiliki sits above the ruins of its pre-historic ancestor, a Minoan village that was occupied for some 1000 years until the catastrophic collapse of the Minoan civilisation in the 15th century B.C. In the shadow of the larger Minoan site at nearby Gournia, Minoan Vasiliki is overgrown and fenced off, closed to all but the most determined visitor.
A short distance past Pachia Ammos, on the road to Agios Nikolaos, is the altogther more cared for archaeological site at Gournia. Largely built towards the end of the Minoan civilisation, excavations have resulted in a well-defined site showing an easily visualised settlement built around a palace complex - similar to, but smaller than that found at Knossos - at the highest point. To walk these Minoan streets, which every visitor can, is to walk in the company of 3,500 year-old ghosts.
Journey Times
Makrigialos to Gournia: Approx 40-50 minutes
Along the Thripti mountain road: Approx: 30 minutes without stops.
Gournia Minoan Ruins
Open 08:30-15:00 every day except Mondays and public holidays. Entrance €2 per person
The image gallery is hosted on Flickr. If you would like to see more information about the photographs and/or comment on them, you can do so on my Flickr Ierapetra Isthmus Photoset.
And this doesn't even scratch the surface of what there is to see in the Ierapetra isthmus area...
E-mail this page to a friend
back to top
